Retaining-Groove Hose Coupling for Twist-Resistant Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hose couplings for flexible hoses in the sanitary sector face issues with leakage and reduced bursting safety due to annular flanges that act as cutting edges when twisted, leading to potential leaks and compromised structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

The hose coupling features retaining grooves on the outer circumference of the connecting piece, designed as depressions with triangular or square cross-sections, which securely engage the hose end without protruding flanges, ensuring a resilient and strong connection capable of withstanding torque and axial forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an annular flange that tapers towards the outer circumference is used to form the holding profile, then the hose end can be pushed on easily, but the flange acts like a circumferential cutting edge that digs into the hose line when torque is exerted, causing leaks or reduced bursting safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of pushing hose end onVSAvoidbursting safety and leak prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the holding profile into multiple discrete retaining elements (protrusions or grooves) arranged circumferentially around the connecting piece, rather than using a single continuous annular flange. This segmentation prevents the formation of a continuous cutting edge while maintaining the hose-retaining function through distributed contact points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates localized retaining features (discrete protrusions or grooves) at specific positions around the connecting piece perimeter, rather than a uniform continuous flange. These localized features provide sufficient retention while eliminating the harmful continuous cutting edge effect that occurs with torqued annular flanges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If retaining grooves are formed by material displacement protruding beyond the outer circumference, then relative twisting is prevented, but the webs cut into the elastic material of the hose, increasing the risk of deformation and preventing twisting in the opposite direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of relative twistingVSAvoidcutting into hose material and deformation risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forming protruding retaining elements that dig into the hose material, the patent inverts the approach by creating recesses or grooves that receive and hold the hose end. This inversion eliminates the cutting action while maintaining the anti-twisting function through the geometric constraint of the recess shape

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful material displacement that would create protruding cutting edges into a beneficial recess structure. The material is displaced to form cavities that gently receive and hold the hose end, transforming what would be a harmful protruding feature into a beneficial retaining recess that prevents twisting without cutting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances the hose coupling's tightness, resilience, and bursting safety by preventing cutting into the hose's inner circumference during twisting, while allowing for high axial and torsional force transmission, resulting in a more reliable and durable connection.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic material of the flexible hose is dug into the retaining grooves designed as depressions by means of the squeezing sleeve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3527866B1Hose coupling
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 NEOPERL GMBH
  • EP3527866B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3527866B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9
  • EP3527866B1 patent drawingFigure 10~11

AI summary

The invention relates to a hose coupling (1) which is designed in a sleeve shape and which has at least one coupling end a connecting piece (3) with a retaining profile provided on the outer circumference, at least in a partial area of ​​the piece, onto which at least one profiled coupling end a hose end (4) of a flexible hose (2) can be slid. A characteristic feature of the hose coupling according to the invention is that the retaining profile is formed by at least one retaining groove (5) provided on the outer circumference of the connecting piece (3), which has groove longitudinal sides (8, 9) oriented in the circumferential direction of the piece and groove narrow sides (6, 7) oriented in the longitudinal direction of the piece (see Fig. 1).